The Cat and The Canary

Suspense and intrigue returned to Darlington Hippodrome last night and it was a solid 3 star show.

Continuing to build on the long success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, Bill Kenwright’s Classic Thriller Theatre Company (Rehearsal For Murder, Judgement in Stone and The Lady Vanishes), returns with their latest chilling whodunit, the creepy comedy thriller The Cat and the Canary, written by John Willard and Directed by Roy Marsden.

Set in an old mansion, it is the tale of estranged family members brought together 20 years after the patriarch’s death to hear the reading of his will, and more importantly to them, find out who will inherit the vast fortune he left behind.

Of course, when there’s money involved initial bon amie turns to greed and we watch as plots are written, schemes concocted and true feelings uncovered.  There’s no shortage of shocks, as well as some laugh out loud moments, all played in a wonderful set which becomes more claustrophobic as the night continues.

Heading up the cast is silver screen and Bond-girl legend Britt Ekland, playing Mrs Pleasant, the housekeeper. Mrs Pleasant has lived alone in the house since the former owners demise and is now as part of the fabric of the building as the bookcases and creaking stairs. Britt is a perfect balance of seldom being centre stage yet ominously ever present and oozes Hollywood style.

Starring alongside Ms Ekland is singer-songwriter, actor and former member of 00’s boy band Blue, Antony Costa who has wonderful comedic timing and plays the apparent hapless vet, Paul, perfectly.

Tracy Shaw, best known for her long-running role as Maxine Peacock in Coronation Street is the debonair author Annabelle and the story’s heroine.  Her performance commands attention, shining out through the auditorium with star appeal and at times carrying the plot on her own.

They are joined by West End leading lady Marti Webb (Evita and Tell Me on A Sunday) as Aunt Susan; Gary Webster, (Family Affairs and Ray Daley opposite George Cole in ITV’s Minder) as Harry; Classic Thriller Theatre Company veteran Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier) as actor Charlie, and Eric Carte (Bouquet of Barbed Wire) as Crosby, the Lawyer and family solicitor.

As a horror/drama/comedy this is a great opening to the Hippodrome’s Autumn season, very entertaining and a lovely return to live theatre.

Tickets are on sale https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/The-Cat-and-the-Canary#booking

An Interview with Britt Ekland

Preview of Cat and the Canary

An interview with Britt Ekland

A chilling tale of murder, mystery and greed comes to Darlington with a stage adaptation of The Cat and The Canary starring Hollywood superstar Britt Ekland. The star of stage and screen tells us about her latest acting challenge.

 

Hi Britt. You’re starring in thriller The Cat and the Canary. What’s the play about?

It’s a story about a big, deserted mansion on the Bodmin Moor. The owner died 20 years earlier and he has instructed his solicitors to assemble all the possible heirs to go through the will. There’s an assortment of people from all over the world that come into this spooky house, and loads of surprises ensue from the start.

 

It is an interesting story with many twists and turns. It’s very much in the tradition of Agatha Christie and the type of thriller British audiences love. I think our audiences will get a big surprise and that’s all I’m going to say.

 

What made you want to be part of this production?

First, I’m always up for a challenge. I always have been. I have done almost everything you can think of in my career. This is definitely not a role I’m used to; this play is not a farce, for a start! It’s something a bit more challenging for me.

 

Fantastic. So, who are you playing?

I play the housekeeper. She has been in this house alone for 20 years before this midnight meeting with all the assembled heirs and the solicitor. She’s probably had quite a solitary life and had to find ways of surviving that solitude, the cold and the war. She hasn’t had any physical company, but she feels she has had spiritual company. She’s very stern. Her job is to guard this house until the heir takes it over and that’s what she’s done for 20 years.

 

What makes this such a challenge for you?

I haven’t been on stage since my last panto in 2013. And I was never a rep actor – I was a movie star. I finished school when I was 17 and went to drama school for two years, then toured with a variety show and did a film in Rome. The next thing I know, I have a contract with Twentieth Century Fox and I’m sent to London. That’s where I meet Peter Sellers and marry him. Although I wanted to be on stage, being a movie star didn’t hold the prestige of being a good stage actor – not in Sweden where I came from. I don’t have the background that most actors my age have, which is my main challenge on this tour.

 

You’ve been working for more than 60 years. How do you keep yourself fit enough to tour?

I’m very fortunate that I’ve always worked out. In March 2018, I did Strictly Come Dancing in Sweden as the oldest participant ever. But I don’t take anything for granted. You have to be alert and stay on top of everything. A lot of this is your own mental attitude to life as well, not just what you eat and how you move. You have to have a very mobile mental attitude.

 

That sounds like a fantastic philosophy.

As you get older and what you look like matters less, you’ve got to challenge yourself to stay relevant and continue working. I could just sit down with a cup of tea and biscuits and watch television… but I don’t do that!

 

The Cat and The Canary runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 September.

 

For more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk